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A Utah family is grieving today after learning their family member is one of two inmates killed when a transport van went off the road in Arkansas on Friday.
Sherilynn Merriam says she's devastated. Her cousin, Shawn Talbot, died when the driver of an inmate transport van fell asleep at the wheel. Another guard tried to grab the steering wheel but overcorrected, sending the van tumbling.
"He [Talbot] was being extradited on a misdemeanor charge to Wisconsin," she explained.
"She says the private security company picked up Talbot in Utah, drove to California and other locations enroute to Wisconsin. Family attorney David Morgan says putting someone in shackles but not a seat belt is tragic.
Especially going such a long distance. We understand it might have been two weeks traveling," he said.
Merriam says she's sad rather than angry right now that her cousin died so young, at age 29. Shawn Talbot was born and raised in Utah County.
E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com
